II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1078 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out programs and activities 

that connect people in the United States, especially children, youth, 

and families, with the outdoors. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 23, 2015 

Mr. HEINRICH introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to carry out programs and activities that connect people in the United 

States, especially children, youth, and families, with the 

outdoors. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Healthy Kids Outdoors 

5 Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that— 


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1 (1) children today are spending less time out2 doors than any generation in human history, as evi3 denced by studies that show children enjoy half as 

4 much time outdoors today as children did just 20 

years ago, while children spend more than 71 5 ⁄2 hours 

6 every day in front of electronic media; 

7 (2) the health of children in the United States 

8 is at risk as evidenced by the growing obesity crisis 

9 in which, during the past 30 years, the childhood 

10 obesity rate has more than doubled and the adoles11 cent obesity rate has quadrupled, costing the econ12 omy of the United States billions of dollars each 

13 year; 

14 (3) the rise in childhood obesity has had a neg15 ative economic impact; 

16 (4) the readiness of the military is declining as 

17 nearly 1 in 4 applicants to the military is rejected 

18 for being overweight or obese, which is the most 

19 common reason for medical disqualification; 

20 (5) research has shown that military children 

21 and families are facing increased stress and mental 

22 strain and challenges due to multiple, extended de23 ployments; 

24 (6) military family service organizations have 

25 developed programs that connect military children 


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1 and families with positive, meaningful outdoor expe2 riences that benefit mental and physical health, but 

3 the programs lack sufficient resources to meet in4 creasing demand; 

5 (7) the outdoor retail industry, many local tour6 ist destinations or ‘‘gateway communities’’, and 

7 State fish and wildlife agencies rely on revenue gen8 erated from individuals spending time outdoors to 

9 create jobs in local communities; 

10 (8) over the past several years, urbanization, 

11 changing land use patterns, increasing road traffic, 

12 and inadequate solutions to addressing those chal13 lenges in the built environment have combined to 

14 make it more difficult for many people in the United 

15 States to walk or bike to schools, parks, and play 

16 areas or experience the natural environment; 

17 (9) spending time in green spaces outside the 

18 home, including public land, parks, play areas, and 

19 gardens— 

20 (A) increases concentration, inhibition of 

21 initial impulses, and self-discipline in children; 

22 and 

23 (B) has been shown to reduce stress and 

24 mental fatigue in children; 


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1 (10) in one study, children who were exposed to 

2 greener environments in a public housing area dem3 onstrated less aggression, violence, and stress; 

4 (11) visitation to public land in the United 

5 States has declined or remained flat in recent years, 

6 and yet, connecting with nature and the great out7 doors in communities is critical to fostering the next 

8 generation of outdoor enthusiasts who will visit, ap9 preciate, and become stewards of the public land in 

10 the United States; 

11 (12) spending time outdoors in nature— 

12 (A) is beneficial to the physical, mental, 

13 and emotional health of children; and 

14 (B) has been proven— 

15 (i) to decrease symptoms of attention 

16 deficit and hyperactivity disorder in chil17 dren; 

18 (ii) to stimulate brain development, 

19 improve motor skills, result in better sleep, 

20 reduce stress, increase creativity, and im21 prove moods in children; and 

22 (iii) to reduce the risk of developing 

23 myopia in children; 

24 (13) children who spend time playing outside 

25 are more likely to take risks, seek out adventure, deVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:50 May 06, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1078.IS S1078

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1 velop self-confidence, and respect the value of na2 ture; 

3 (14) a direct childhood experience with nature 

4 before the age of 11 promotes a long-term connec5 tion to nature; 

6 (15) conservation education and outdoor recre7 ation experiences such as camping, hiking, boating, 

8 hunting, fishing, archery, recreational shooting, wild9 life watching, and other experiences are critical to 

10 engaging young people in the outdoors; 

11 (16) as children become more disconnected 

12 from the natural world, the hunting and angling 

13 conservation legacy of the United States is at risk; 

14 (17) hunters and anglers play a critical role in 

15 reconnecting young people with nature, protecting 

16 the natural resources of the United States, and fos17 tering a lifelong understanding of the value of con18 serving the natural world; 

19 (18) research demonstrates that hunters that 

20 become engaged in hunting as children are among 

21 the most active and interested hunters as adults; 

22 (19) the vast majority of hunters report that 

23 the hunters were introduced to hunting between the 

24 ages of 10 and 12, with the overwhelming majority 

25 of children being introduced to hunting by an adult; 


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1 (20) parks and recreation, youth-serving, serv2 ice-learning, conservation, health, education, and 

3 built-environment organizations, facilities, and per4 sonnel provide critical resources and infrastructure 

5 for connecting children and families with nature; 

6 (21) it takes many dedicated people to work to 

7 preserve, protect, enhance, and restore natural re8 sources in the United States; 

9 (22) with an aging workforce in the natural re10 source professions, it is critical for the next genera11 tion to have an appreciation for nature and be ready 

12 to take over the responsibilities relating to the nat13 ural resources of the United States; 

14 (23) place-based service-learning opportunities 

15 use land and water as the context for learning by 

16 engaging students in the process of exploration, ac17 tion, and reflection; 

18 (24) physical activity outdoors connected with 

19 meaningful community service to solve real-world 

20 problems, such as removing invasive plants or re21 moving trash from a streambed, strengthens commu22 nities by engaging youth as citizen stewards; 

23 (25) States and community-based partners have 

24 some notable programs that connect children and 

25 families with nature, yet most States lack sufficient 


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1 resources and a comprehensive strategy to effectively 

2 engage State agencies across multiple fields; and 

3 (26) States need to engage in cross-sector agen4 cy and nonprofit collaboration that involves public 

5 health and wellness, parks and recreation, transpor6 tation and city planning, and other sectors focused 

7 on connecting children and families with the out8 doors to increase coordination and effective imple9 mentation of the policy tools and programs that a 

10 State can bring to bear to provide outdoor opportu11 nities for children and families. 

12 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

13 In this Act: 

14 (1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti15 ty’’ means— 

16 (A) a State; or 

17 (B) a consortium from one State that in18 cludes the State and local partners. 

19 (2) LOCAL PARTNER.—The term ‘‘local part20 ner’’ means— 

21 (A) a unit of local government; 

22 (B) a tribal government; 

23 (C) a parks and recreation department or 

24 district; 

25 (D) a school district; 


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1 (E) an institution of higher education; 

2 (F) a nonprofit organization; and 

3 (G) a consortium of entities described in 

4 subparagraphs (A) through (F). 

5 (3) NATIONAL STRATEGY.—The term ‘‘national 

6 strategy’’ means the national strategy developed 

7 under section 5(a). 

8 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

9 the Secretary of the Interior. 

10 (5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any of 

11 the several States, the District of Columbia, the 

12 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States 

13 Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Com14 monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, any 

15 other territory or possession of the United States, or 

16 any Indian tribe. 

17 (6) STATE STRATEGY.—The term ‘‘State strat18 egy’’ means a State strategy developed under section 

19 4(a). 

20 SEC. 4. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENT 

21 OR IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTHY KIDS 

22 OUTDOORS STATE STRATEGIES. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may issue to an eli24 gible entity a cooperative agreement for each State for the 

25 development, implementation, and updating by the eligible 


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1 entity of a 5-year State strategy, to be known as a 

2 ‘‘Healthy Kids Outdoors State Strategy’’, that is designed 

3 to encourage people in the United States (especially chil4 dren, youth, and families) to be physically active outdoors. 

5 (b) SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL OF STRATEGIES.— 

6 (1) APPLICATIONS.—An application for a coop7 erative agreement under subsection (a) shall— 

8 (A) be submitted by the eligible entity to 

9 the Secretary not later than 120 days after the 

10 date on which the Secretary publishes guide11 lines under subsection (f)(1); and 

12 (B) include— 

13 (i) a State strategy that meets the re14 quirements of subsection (c), as deter15 mined by the Secretary; or 

16 (ii) a proposal for the development 

17 and submission to the Secretary of a State 

18 strategy. 

19 (2) APPROVAL OF STRATEGY; PEER REVIEW.— 

20 Not later than 90 days after the date on which a 

21 State strategy is submitted under paragraph 

22 (1)(B)(i), the Secretary shall, through a peer review 

23 process, approve, or recommend changes to, the 

24 State strategy. 

25 (3) STATE STRATEGY UPDATES.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity that 

2 receives funds under this section shall update 

3 the State strategy at least once every 5 years. 

4 (B) FUNDING.—Funding to an eligible en5 tity under this section shall be terminated if the 

6 eligible entity does not— 

7 (i) update the State strategy in ac8 cordance with subparagraph (A); or 

9 (ii) provide to the Secretary reports 

10 that document— 

11 (I) the results of evaluation 

12 methods consistent with the guidelines 

13 published under subsection (f)(1); and 

14 (II) lessons learned from imple15 menting the State strategy. 

16 (c) COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY REQUIREMENTS.— 

17 Each State strategy shall include— 

18 (1) a description of ways in which the eligible 

19 entity will encourage people in the United States 

20 (especially children, youth, and families) to be phys21 ically active in the outdoors through— 

22 (A) State, local, and tribal— 

23 (i) public health systems; 

24 (ii) public parks and recreation sys25 tems; and 


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1 (iii) public transportation and city 

2 planning systems; and 

3 (B) other public systems that connect peo4 ple in the United States (especially children, 

5 youth, and families) to the outdoors; 

6 (2) a description of ways in which the eligible 

7 entity will partner with nongovernmental organiza8 tions (including organizations serving military fami9 lies and tribal agencies), with an emphasis on orga10 nizations serving children, youth, and families; 

11 (3) a description of ways in which State agen12 cies will collaborate with each other to implement 

13 the State strategy; 

14 (4) a description of ways in which funding will 

15 be expended through local planning and implementa16 tion subgrants under subsection (d); 

17 (5) a description of ways in which the eligible 

18 entity will evaluate the effectiveness of, and measure 

19 the impact of, the State strategy, including an esti20 mate of the costs associated with the evaluation; 

21 (6) a description of ways in which the eligible 

22 entity will provide opportunities for public involve23 ment in developing and implementing the State 

24 strategy; 


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1 (7) a description of ways in which the State 

2 strategy will increase visitation to Federal public 

3 land within the State; and 

4 (8) a description of ways in which the eligible 

5 entity will leverage private funds to expand opportu6 nities and further implement the State strategy. 

7 (d) LOCAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—A State strategy shall pro9 vide for the provision of subgrants from the eligible 

10 entity to local partners to implement the State strat11 egy through one or more of the program activities 

12 described in paragraph (2). 

13 (2) PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.—Program activities 

14 referred to in paragraph (1) may include— 

15 (A) implementing outdoor recreation and 

16 youth mentoring programs that provide oppor17 tunities to experience the outdoors, be phys18 ically active, and teach skills for lifelong partici19 pation in outdoor activities, including fishing, 

20 hunting, recreational shooting, archery, hiking, 

21 camping, outdoor play in natural environments, 

22 and wildlife watching; 

23 (B) implementing programs that connect 

24 communities with safe parks, green spaces, and 

25 outdoor recreation areas through affordable 


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1 public transportation and trail systems that en2 courage walking, biking, and increased physical 

3 activity outdoors; 

4 (C) implementing— 

5 (i) school-based programs that use 

6 outdoor learning environments, such as 

7 wildlife habitats or gardens; and 

8 (ii) programs that use service learning 

9 to restore natural areas and maintain rec10 reational assets; and 

11 (D) implementing education programs for 

12 parents and caregivers about the health benefits 

13 of active time outdoors to fight obesity and in14 crease the quality of life for people in the 

15 United States (especially children, youth, and 

16 families). 

17 (e) PRIORITY.—In making cooperative agreements 

18 under subsection (a) and subgrants under subsection 

19 (d)(1), the Secretary and the eligible entity, respectively, 

20 shall give preference to eligible entities and local partners 

21 that serve individuals that have limited opportunities to 

22 experience nature, including individuals that— 

23 (1) are socioeconomically disadvantaged; 

24 (2) have a disability; or 


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1 (3) suffer disproportionately from physical and 

2 mental health stressors. 

3 (f) GUIDELINES.—Not later than 180 days after the 

4 date of enactment of this Act, and after notice and oppor5 tunity for public comment, the Secretary shall publish in 

6 the Federal Register guidelines on the implementation of 

7 this Act, including guidelines for— 

8 (1) developing and submitting strategies and 

9 evaluation methods under subsection (b); and 

10 (2) technical assistance and dissemination of 

11 best practices under section 7. 

12 (g) REPORTS.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

13 on which the Secretary approves the State strategy of an 

14 eligible entity receiving funds under this section, and every 

15 year thereafter, the eligible entity shall submit to the Sec16 retary a report on the implementation of the State strat17 egy based on the evaluation and assessment of the eligible 

18 entity in meeting the goals specified in the State strategy. 

19 (h) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity re20 ceiving amounts from a cooperative agreement issued 

21 under subsection (a) for a fiscal year— 

22 (1) may use not more than 5 percent of the 

23 funding for administrative expenses; and 


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1 (2) shall use at least 95 percent of the funding 

2 to provide subgrants to local partners under sub3 section (d). 

4 (i) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—An eligible entity re5 ceiving amounts from a cooperative agreement issued 

6 under subsection (a) for a fiscal year shall provide a 25- 

7 percent match through in-kind contributions or cash. 

8 SEC. 5. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR ENCOURAGING PEOPLE 

9 IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE ACTIVE OUT10 DOORS. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 

12 2016, the President, in cooperation with the heads of ap13 propriate Federal departments and agencies, shall develop 

14 and issue a national strategy for encouraging people in 

15 the United States (especially children, youth, and families) 

16 to be physically active outdoors. 

17 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—The strategy developed under 

18 subsection (a) shall include— 

19 (1) the identification of— 

20 (A) barriers to people in the United States 

21 (especially children, youth, and families) spend22 ing time outdoors; and 

23 (B) specific policy solutions to address the 

24 barriers identified under subparagraph (A); 


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1 (2) the identification of opportunities for part2 nerships with Federal, State, tribal, and local part3 ners; 

4 (3) the coordination of efforts among the heads 

5 of appropriate Federal departments and agencies to 

6 address the impacts of people in the United States 

7 (especially children, youth, and families) spending 

8 less active time outdoors on— 

9 (A) public health, including childhood obe10 sity, attention deficit disorders and stress; 

11 (B) the future of conservation in the 

12 United States; and 

13 (C) the economy of the United States; 

14 (4) the identification of ongoing research needs 

15 to document the health, conservation, economic, and 

16 other outcomes of implementing the national strat17 egy and State strategies; 

18 (5) the coordination and alignment of the na19 tional strategy with State strategies; and 

20 (6) an action plan for implementing the na21 tional strategy at the Federal level. 

22 (c) STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT.— 

23 (1) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—Throughout the 

24 process of developing the national strategy under 

25 this section, the President— 


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1 (A) may use, incorporate, or otherwise con2 sider existing Federal plans and strategies that, 

3 in whole or in part, contribute to connecting 

4 people in the United States, especially children, 

5 youth, and families, with the outdoors; and 

6 (B) shall provide for public participation, 

7 including a national summit of participants 

8 with demonstrated expertise in encouraging in9 dividuals to be physically active outdoors in na10 ture. 

11 (2) UPDATING THE NATIONAL STRATEGY.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—The President shall up13 date the national strategy not later than 5 

14 years after the date on which the first national 

15 strategy is issued under subsection (a), and 

16 every 5 years thereafter. 

17 (B) REQUIREMENTS.—In updating the na18 tional strategy under subparagraph (A), the 

19 President shall incorporate results of the eval20 uation under section 6. 

21 SEC. 6. NATIONAL EVALUATION OF HEALTH IMPACTS. 

22 The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of 

23 Health and Human Services, shall— 

24 (1) develop recommendations for appropriate 

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1 tional significance on the health impacts of the na2 tional strategy and State strategies under this Act; 

3 and 

4 (2) carry out the study under paragraph (1). 

5 SEC. 7. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BEST PRACTICES. 

6 The Secretary shall— 

7 (1) provide technical assistance to eligible enti8 ties and local partners under section 4 through coop9 erative agreements with national organizations with 

10 a proven track record of encouraging people in the 

11 United States (especially children, youth, and fami12 lies) to be physically active outdoors; and 

13 (2) disseminate best practices that emerge from 

14 strategies funded under this Act. 

15 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro17 priated to the Secretary to carry out this Act— 

18 (1) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2016; 

19 (2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; and 

20 (3) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2018. 

21 (b) LIMITATION.—Of the amounts made available to 

22 carry out this Act for a fiscal year, not more than 5 per23 cent may be made available for carrying out section 7. 

24 (c) OTHER FUNDS.—Funds made available under 

25 this Act shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, 


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1 any other Federal, State, or local funds available for ac2 tivities that encourage people in the United States (espe3 cially children, youth, and families) to be physically active 

4 outdoors. 

Æ 


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